Alternative Therapies for Treating Seizures

These are other non-drug therapies that people have found effective in their particular situation. Keep in mind that since each case of Epilepsy is different, a variety of therapies or drugs that are effective for one person might not work for another.

If you are aware of a therapy that should be listed, please submit it here for inclusion on this page. Again, this is not intended as medical advice or recommendation. This is simply for your information.

VNS therapy, or Vagus Nerve Stimulation, involves the surgical placement of an implant to stimulation the Vagus nerve. For some patients, this approach allows seizure control without any medication.

Another implant, The Responsive Neurostimulator (RNS), has been used successfully to treat some cases of epilepsy. From the NeuroPace website:

“The RNS is a programmable, battery powered, microprocessor-controlled device that delivers a short train of electrical pulses to the brain through implanted leads. In treating epilepsy, the RNS is designed to detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain and respond by delivering electrical stimulation to normalize brain activity before the patient experiences seizure symptoms. The RNS is implanted in the cranium and connected to one or two leads that are implanted near the patient’s seizure focus.”

Some interesting work has been done with music and frequencies – working on the premise that healthy brain waves emit a frequency, or vibration that can be imitated or ‘suggested’ to the brain via music. Check out our article section to see some of these reports.

Surgery is sometimes an option. An MRI is performed to see there is a place on the brain that can be ‘repaired’. It could be a blister, a boil, some scar tissue, etc. While surgery sounds scary, sometimes it is essentially “cosmetic” or a surface touch up to the damaged or affected spot and not as invasive as you may think.

Less “Traditional” Alternatives to Managing Epilepsy

If you spend enough time on the internet searching for possible solutions, you will invariably come across people with a huge variety of claims. Since we care so much for our health (and the health of our children), we can be vulnerable to any idea, even if it is unsound. Some “therapies” have made the situation worse. Please see the section of our website called “seizure triggers” for a list of some of these (including some well known herbs).

While yours is the ultimate responsibility, we urge you to seek professional counsel from your doctor and to weigh your decisions carefully.